Just Because: We Are Dying To Play Backgammon On This Vintage Rolex-Themed Set

Now here's something you don’t see every day: A vintage Rolex-branded green leather backgammon set, replete with the original cups, checkers, and dice. Offered for auction in December of last year by Sotheby's (so no, you can’t buy it — but loving watch culture means you're always seeing cool stuff you can't buy), this darling piece of merch stood out alongside several more common lots for Rolex paperweights, ashtrays, keychains, and store display ephemera. Dated to 1960 and appearing to be in good condition, the Rolex backgammon set was listed with an estimate of £600 to £1,200 (~$830 to $1,660). And for collectors – be they Rolex-focused or perhaps simply into antique backgammon sets – it's a rare and special thing that illustrates how brands (and indeed even Rolex) expanded the scope of their merch from trinkets and boutique handouts to leisure-signaling lifestyle products. Embossed with a gold coronet and built into a green leather briefcase, this set is a bit larger than a common laptop, and inside, you'll find sewn leather points on a green felt-like base. The checkers are color-matched to the points and each player gets their own matching green leather cup. It’s a gorgeous set and a true oddity from the strange and often murky world of watch-branded non-watch items, which is perhaps why the lot shattered its high estimate with a final result of £3,024 (~$4,200). We'll let you know if we ever see another on the market. In the meantime, for that price, we do hope the new owners know how to play backgammon. It'd be a shame not to take it for a spin. Click here to view the original lot listing. All images via Sothebys.comRoll the dice, take the crown.